And Ring recalls: "Shane was teaching in Dublin and Philip asked him to come in and help him with the coaching.

"The girls really enjoyed the year with him (Ronayne), and still speak very highly of him and rated him highly as a coach.

"We'd be in touch on and off and meet up occasionally, as we're both involved in third-level football.

"I met him on Wednesday night in Cork, DCU were playing UCC and I spoke to him briefly after the game."

For an hour at Bray Emmets GAA club, friendship will be put to one side as Fox-Cab and Mourneabbey battle it out for a December 3 final place.

On Sunday, Fox-Cab's neighbours Cuala are also in All-Ireland semi-final action, when they tackle Monaghan outfit Corduff in the junior championship.

Ring smiles: "We'd know a lot of them, they're in the next parish and a lot of the players would know each other very well.

"Some of them went to school and college together, and play inter-county together. There's a very good working relationship out our way between the clubs.

"We'd get on well with Cuala and have a good working relationship with (Kilmacud) Crokes as well. Local clubs have to co-operate with each other, it wouldn't work otherwise.

"Facilities are limited so we have to help each other out on occasion."

Ring has reported no major late injury concerns ahead of the fixture, but will be planning once again without Dublin county player Amy Connolly, who sustained cruciate knee ligament damage earlier this year.

Ring said: "We're waiting on one or two, we have had a couple with flu and chest infections. We played a challenge on Monday, which a couple of players sat out, and a couple of little niggles.

"One or two had to come through to prove fitness but we've been lucky enough with injuries all year. The big loss is Amy, she's been a huge, huge loss.

"But we've adjusted and managed to get this far. Now it's about whether we have the firepower and the mental strength to get to the next level.

"Their experience would be a year or two ahead of us and a bit like ourselves, they have a number of inter-county players as well.

"It's going to be a mental test, really. Whoever goes out there and does it on the day will probably get through.

"Both teams have been there or thereabouts for the last two or three years - neither of us has reached the Holy Grail and somebody's going to be disappointed again. That's life, that's the way it is, but we'll the best we can for our club."